Loose-leaf binder



July 1, 1941. G. H- OMAN f 2,247,397

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed dat. 4, 1958 a @www WMM ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATES rarer Fries LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Gustaf H. Oman, Whitestone, N. Y.

Application October 4, 1933, Serial No. 233,174

5 Claims.

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders and more particularly to those comprising a pair of symmetrically disposed metal pieces hinged at the center.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a hinged loose-leaf binder a simple and eilective locking device of low manufacturing cost which shall be so constructed as to insure its quick and facile operation at all times and under all conditions. The invention consists principally of two symmetrically disposed rightangled members united by a hinge, a locking slide centrally disposed between the members and over the hinge and having a tab for operating the slide at one end, a stop at the opposite end, a spring mounted on one of the parts and engaging the slide to hold the slide in locking position, a'plurality of pairs of arcuate members, one member of each pair having a notch, a lug mounted on the slide and engaging the notch, one side of the lug being on the bias and the other side of the lug being straight, the other element of each pair having a notch which also receives the lug on the slide to engage the locking edge of the lug, one of the members of each pair being mounted on one of the hinged parts and the other member of each pair being mounted on the other of the hinged parts, and the biased side of each lug engaging the surface of the locking member of each pair and permitting the lug to slide into the locking recess easily.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1 is a plan View showing the binder in the closed and locked position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper part of the binder showing it in the closed but unlocked position,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar section with the binder in the locked partly open position, and

Figure 5 is a similar view with the binder in the extreme open or assembly position.

It will be understood that this binder is of the type adapted for a back and cover, `such as shown in United States Patent to Krag, No. 1,320,479 dated November 4, 1919,

Referring to the drawing, a right angled metal member I0 is mounted on the left side and has at the lower right edge small lengthwise cylindrical .tubes II formed by bending over the edge of the metal through which is passed a cylindrical locking rod or Wire I2. The right angled metal member I3 also has at the lower left edge turned-over parts II staggered with reference to the parts Il on the member Ii) so that the rod I2, when passed through both cylindrical` members II, locks them together as a hinge. It will also be understood that the members I and I3 have in their upright vertical walls suitable apertures, as shown in the above cited patent, for binding rivets and the usual cross pieces which hold the loose sheets together. On the lower part of the member I0, by means of a ilat foot piece I5, is mounted an arcuate bracket I4 transversely to the members I0 and I 3 in Which, at the center, is a rectangular notch I6 and at the right, suitably spaced, another similar notch II. A second transverse arcuate member I8 is mounted on a foot plate I9, which is welded or suitably secured to the flat part of the member I3. The transverse piece I3 lies above and near the transverse piece I4 and has a rectangular central notch 2G and to the left a notch 2| having the same spacing as the notch I'I on the member I4.

A locking slide 22 extends centrally substantially the entire length of the members I I) and I3 and has at the bottom, accessible to the finger and thumb, a vertical tab 23 by means of which it is pushed up and down. At the upper end a stop 24 is mounted on the flat piece of the member I3 by means of a rivet 25 and has a downward extension 26, the left surface of which is straight and in engagement with the right edge of the slide 22. A locl'ng tooth 2l, which has the same width as the notches on the transverse brackets I4 and I8, has a left curved or camming edge 28 engageable with the left edges of the notches I6 and I 'I and forming a point with the right straight edge 29, which lockingly engages the right side of the notches. The tooth 2l is mounted on a bracket 30 which has a right angled ilat extension 3| which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of the slide 22. The tooth 27 normally lies in the notch 2Q of the bracket I8, the notch acting as a guide and holding member to keep the slide 22 in its normal position.

Referring to Figure 5, the left bottom portion of the member I8 is cut away at 32, the thickness of the slide 22, which has a guide contact against its left edge by the foot I9. This construction provides for the facile assembly of the binder. The right upper edge of the transverse bracket I4 is similarly cut away at 33 and at the center the bracket I4 below the notch I6 is provided with another arcuate recess 34, the radius of which permits the edge of the slide 22 to pass thereunder in the unlocked position, shown in Figure 4. The slide 22 is normally retracted to the locked position by a coil spring 36 fastened or nested on a lug 35 struck up from the dat portion of the member I3, and one end 3l of the spring lies above and behind a pin 38 struck up or mounted on the slide 22. The position of this end 31 of the spring is such that as the slide is retracted to locking position by the spring the slide is held against the edges of the feet I9. As shown there are three sets of locking members, one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle, although it will be understood that any desired number might be used. It will also be further noted that the offsetting of the rivet 25 to the right of the center of the slide 22 causes, when the end of the slide 22 is pushed up against the lower edge of the stop 24, the extension 26 to swing left toward and hug the edge of the slide 22 thereby making it more firm and secure when it is engaged by the slide. It will be noted further that the construction includes a minimum number of parts and operations in manufacture thereby lessening the cost of manufacture and also making a simple, strong and durable con struction. It will also be noted that the notch 2| in the member I8 does not engage the tooth v27, but by providing the notch 2I it is possible to 'manufacture the member I 4 and its foot I5, and the member I8 and its foot I9 from the same machine and dies because they areidentical in construction but placed in opposition to each other.

Having disclosed one form of my invention and realizing that changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art in view of my disclosure, I do not wish t'o be limited except by the appended claims.

I'claim:

1. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, two members hingedly connected along adjacent edges, a slide mounted on one of said members for lengthwise movement, a spring tending to move the slide in one direction, a stop to prevent the slide from moving beyond a predetermined point in the opposite direction, an arm on the slide, a locking lug mounted on the arm, a bracket at right-angles to the members and overlying the slide and having a locking slot therein mounted on the other hinged member, said slot being aligned with said lug in the closed position'of the members, and a second bracket having an laperture for the slide and V-a guiding slot for ethe lug mounted on the same member as the slide.

-2. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, two members lhingedly connected along adjacent edges, -a slide mounted on one of said members, a

spring tending to move the slide in one direction, a stop to prevent the slide from moving beyond a predetermined point in the opposite direction, an arm on the slide, a locking lug mounted on the arm, and a bracket at right-angles to the members and overlying the slide and having a locking slot therein mounted on the other hinged member, said slot being aligned with said lug in the closed position of the members, the locking lug having a biased 'edge and 'a straight edge for engaging the slot.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, two -members hingedly connected along adjacent edges, a slide mounted on one of said members, a spring tending to move the slide in one direction, a stop to prevent the slide from moving beyond a predetermined point in the opposite direction, a locking lug mounted on the slide, and a bracket having a locking slot therein mounted on the other hinged member, said slot being aligned with said lug ,in the vclosed position of the members, the stop being held by a single rivet offset to such a position that vthe end of the slide when pressed against the stop tends to move the 'stop toward the side of the slide.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, two members hingedly connected along adjacent edges, a slide mounted on one of said members, a spring tending to move the-slide in 'one direction, a stop to prevent the'slide from moving beyond a predetermined point in the opposite direction, a locking nut mounted on the slide, a bracket having a locking slot therein mounted on the other hinged member, said slo't being aligned with said lug in the closed position of the members, and a second bracket having an aperture for the slide land a guiding slot for the lug mounted on the same member as the slide, said brackets being identical in construction.

5. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, two members hingedly lconnected along adjacent edges, a slide mounted on one of said members, a spring tending to move the slide in one direction, a stop to prevent the slide'from moving beyond a predetermined point in the opposite direction, a locking lug mounted on the slide, a bracket having a locking slot therein mounted on the other hinged member, said slot being aligned with said lug in the closed position of the members, and a second bracket having an aperture forfthe slide and a guiding slot for the lug mounted on the same member as the slide, the first bracket having an arcuate cut-away portion at the bottom clearing the slide but providing a curved holding edge therefor.

GUS'IAF H. OMAN. 

